Afraid to make travel plans?
Flying is no exception, and its completely understandable why thats the case.
Experts in This Article
a licensed therapist who specializes in OCD and specific phobias.
Laura works with individuals using a wide variety of solutions-focused modalities.
Some of them might even help reduce or alleviate your fear of flying.
(A little bit of preparation and mindfulness go a long way.)
a trauma-informed, LGBTQ+-affirming therapist who works with teens and adults experiencing anxiety and OCD in NY and NJ
Here are our top 14 tips to curb fear of flying:
1.
For specific phobias (like aviophobia), Wu suggests Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).
The specific benefits will be up to you, and they may be difficult to find at first.
In this case, comparing flying to car, bus, or train travel can be a useful task.
These benefits dont have to be materially specific, though.
At the end of the day, youre only human, and fear is a perfectly natural emotion.
Stay hydrated
Consistently hydratingduring a flight is super important for your mental and physical health.
The good news, though, is that serious physical or mental health effects are relatively rare.
What will feel good to you is dependent on your own preferences.
a trauma-informed, LGBTQ+-affirming therapist who works with teens and adults experiencing anxiety and OCD in NY and NJ
Be strategic about time spent at the airport
8.
That said, theres no reason why your favorite book or coziest sweater shouldnt accompany you on the journey.
Try your best to create as much comfort for yourself as possible.
If possible, you could look forward to a degree of comfort thats provided on the plane as well.
Exhaling for longer than you inhale, when accessible, can gradually shift you back into a restful state.
Hopefully, there are some built-in rewards upon your arrival as well.
Time spent with loved ones is one of the best ways to treat yourself after accomplishing something big.
Ultimately, though, this compassion and encouragement is best when it comes from you!
What causes the fear of flying?
There are many different reasons why someone could be afraid of flying, according to Wu.
How safe is it to fly?
What medicine helps with flying anxiety?
You shouldalwaysconsult with a licensed prescriber before taking any medication, related or unrelated to flying.
Saadat, Seyed Hassan, et al.
Non-Pharmacologic Treatments for Fear of Flying.International Journal of Travel Medicine and Global Health, vol.
Accessed 31 Aug. 2024.
Cardos, Roxana A.I., et al.
Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy in Flight Anxiety: A Quantitative Meta-Analysis.Computers in Human Behavior, vol.
72, July 2017, pp.
371380, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2017.03.007.
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